What’s Important to You?

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, it’s important to think about what’s most important to you.

Buyer

When you’re purchasing a home, it’s important for you to realize that it’s unlikely you’ll find a home that offers everything you want. Before you start your home search, you should make a list of your “must haves” and “wants.” Your must have list might include location (has to be near a specific school), a garage, number of bedrooms, and so-on. Your wants list may be similar or different, such as an updated kitchen, bedrooms all on the same floor, and a home with air conditioning. Some people also do a list of “don’t wants.” These are items that will be deal breakers for you – for example, no off-street parking.

This list should guide you (and your real estate broker) as you look at homes. But it’s also important to be flexible. Some items can be renovated, such as the kitchen, which you can remodel to meet your needs and wishes. Other items, such as location, may be non-negotiable.

Seller

Many think that all a seller cares about is money. That’s probably true, I’ve never met a seller who didn’t care about the bottom line. But sellers also have needs too. They may need to stay in their home for a certain period of time after closing, to allow them to purchase another property. Sellers may prefer that buyers plan to live in the home, rather than a developer purchasing their home full of memories to just tear down.

Of course, as you’re looking for a home or looking at offers, your must haves and wants may change. Flexibility and open-mindedness are critical. Spending some time upfront thinking about what’s important to you will help you throughout your real estate transaction.